Finish the Drill

Just call me Dracula

I can still get out in the daylight, but apparently, my thirst for blood is getting stronger.  Today was my first clinic day since the last chemo.   I have been feeling great, but just a bit tired the last couple of days.  I was hoping today was just one of those days to get my labs taken and be sent home after the results.  Not so fast my friend.   I was held up for two hours to day to get not one, but two units of donor blood.  My red blood cell counts were too low.   I call it "getting the freaky".   I have no problem whatsoever with the sight of blood, but for some reason, the thought of taking in someone elses blood is just freaky for me.    Whatever, when I wake up tomorrow morning, I'll feel like Superman again, I'm sure.  Just like the last time I got the freaky. 

As always, my best nurse was right by my side today, making funny faces to keep my mind off the steak juice in the IV.  She's the best. 

Starting to see through the clouds a bit

Well, it's Thursday finally.  By around thursday evening I am at least able to get up off the couch and move around some.   This time, I have more clarity and energy in my mind and spirit than my body is willing to allow right now.  Which is good in my book.  I'd always rather be willing to do more than what my body will allow at certain times.  It will get me better faster.  I guarantee it. 

We were given our official schecule for the transplation process on Tuesday.  I'll either type it all up, or scan a copy of it into the blog when I get a chance.   The bad news is that the transplant won't occur until 8/1.  The good news is that I will have a nice little time of rest without chemo.    My initial reasoning had them hitting me with the high dose chemo for the transplant about 2 weeks after my last ICE chemo and then I was off to the races.  I've been told to hold my horses.  There are several stages to lead up to the transplant.  First, I have to be restaged- which will include another CT/PET Scan,  Bone Marrow Biopsy (Oh Fuck), and possibly a Lumbar Puncture-(bigger Oh Fuck).  The doc may waive off the latter since I have no history of cancer in my marrow previously.   The bone marrow biopsy is standard procedure for staging prior to a transplant and I am stuck with it.  For those of you who don't know about my last experience w the biopsy, lets just say it was less than pleasureable and has left a mark in my psyche for years to come.

After restaging, there will be a test run of a one of the chemos called Bisulfan.  This is in pill form.  This will happen around 23-24 of July.  Once they get the dosage right on that, then the high dose chemo is to begin.  I'll be doing both pills and IV for up to 5 days I think.  The day after my last bit of high dose, comes my new birth day- 8/1/08.   That will be the day that they infuse my frozen, clean stem cells back into my body.  I didn't realize it, but that is the actual term used for transplant day- Birth Day.  I understand the nurses will all come in and sing to me.  Will be the highlight of my day I'm sure. 

I promise to keep you guys updated on my thoughts and any goings on between now and restaging.  We are hoping it will ne nice and un-eventful before then.  Just some good time recovering from all this poison that has been forced upon me.   For those of us who really can't do much- go do something fun or challenging this weekend.  Let me know about it. 

4th Down

It is the AM of the 4th, and what should be the last cycle of ICE.  Today should be relatively easy with only the 2 hour drip coming my way.  It is tomorrow when it gets difficult.  I'm not looking forward to that 24 hour drip pump they send me home with.  2 of 4 times now, I've "kissed the clown" during the 24 hour drip. 

I'm feeling well today and I believe M & I are in the right state of mind for another fun week.  Normally, I"m hit every two weeks, but this break was 3, since they did stem cell harvesting this past week.  The long break was nice.   After this 4th cycle, I'll get another 3 weeks until the high dose chemo that goes along w the transplant.  Then, all I gotta do is sit back and recover!  Lets all keep our fingers crossed that the tests show that everything is where it is supposed to be after this 4th round.  That will insure I go straight into the transplant process.

Stay cool.  I don't remember the last time it was this hot and humid in June. 

The Bone Collector

Today is Tuesday, the day I was originally scheduled to begin stem cell collection.  I went in for labs yesterday AM on the way to the office.  The clinic called me back 2 hours later to advise that I was "ripe" and to get back in ASAP to begin collection.  My bone marrow was producing way more WBC than they thought I guess.  I started a day early.  My WBC count yesterday was 27,500.  The high end of normal is 10,000.  They were able to collect 3,380,000 cells yesterday and 3,020,000 today.  This gets me over the 5M mark which is what they shoot for prior to a transplant.  They'll accept 2M as a minimum.   My bones were aching for a damn reason I guess.  Pumping out some cells.   I am soooo happy this only took a couple of days and it is finished early.  I am over taking those shots twice a day. 

From here, I will have the rest of the week off before getting another round of chemo on Monday.  I'll have a blood draw between now and then as well, but that is just routine.  Hope to see some of you around this week/weekend in between my naps and feedings. 

Today's Pic: Our friend Wendy snapped a pic of Hayes Street for us in San Fran.